What major principle was established in Milliken v. Meyer regarding domicile?

The principle established in Milliken v. Meyer is centered on the concept of domicile as a basis for asserting personal jurisdiction over an absent defendant. The key finding is that if an individual is considered domiciled in a particular state, that state has the authority to assert jurisdiction over that person, even if they are not physically present there at the time of the lawsuit. This case reinforced the idea that domicile creates a significant connection between the individual and the state, and thus, the state can have legal authority to hear cases involving that individual.

This ruling underlines the distinction between physical presence and the legal status of domicile, indicating that mere absence from the jurisdiction does not preclude a court from exercising jurisdiction based on where a person is legally considered to reside. Consequently, it affirms the principle that domicile itself is a powerful factor in establishing personal jurisdiction.